Process and apparatus for germinating seed



March 1 E. J. STODDARD PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR GERMiNATING SEED Filed Aug. 10, 1925 fi INVEN'IORI ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

a 1 umrsp STATES ELLIOTT ar. STODDARD, or HIGHL N rAnKfMio IGeN,

J-rnocnss AND AIPARATUS FOR .GnRMrNer'INe .snnn.

Application filed eug ust 1 192 Se ial no. sates,

lily invention relates to aprocess and apt paratus for germinating seed and objects of my improvements are to avoid displi -eing the seed While Watering it, to keep the seed moist, to protect it from the direct sunlight While permitting sufficient light for germination.

I secure these trated in the accompanying drawing and by the process hereinafter described;

Figure 1, is a .perspectiveview of .apor

non of .an apparatus embodying my. invention and the adjacent seed bed,

.FigureQ, is a section of the same through one of the Windows.

Figure 3, is a view similar. to Figure 1' 7 showing the modified construction.

Figure 4:, is a .crossse tlon of a portion shown inF gure 3. v y

Figure 5,, is a perspective View similar to a Figure 1 showing a second modified conconstruction of the shape cross section-of an inverted trough; the upper portion of the trough .0 issha'ped to form .ayridge c in the shape of an' inverted 'V. 0?,03, are apertures formed through the wall of the trough ,0; these apertures are formed by punching out the material of the wall of the trough'gleaving a tongue 0 at each end slightly turned outward and underneath these tongues is inserted a .piece of trans lucent material d which [closes the aperture c In Figure .3, the trough shown of .a

shaped crhss section and having small ;aper-,

tures a? vpunehed through the wall thereof.

Figure :5, ,a second form of th trough is shown having the oflsets 0 through which a ,ertures 0" are donned; the walls of the 0 -set 0 are approximately horizontal end are shielded by the overhanging walls of the pper port-ion oi the trough 0, the upper portion of which constitutes the ridge 0.

The method of using the above described device is as follows:

Preferably, a long narrow drill or slot 6 is formed in the seed bed having the shape objects the device illus ofa V in cross-section; the seed are placed in the lower angle of this drilland may be I p e s d in by the ridg 6 of the trough .0 or the drill may he formed by pressing he idge of the formed t ip, s own in Fig: ur 3 or 5 into the ground- Th ough c is then placed over the (hill w th s ges engaging referably slight y yond the drill and set filfmly'enfi-l gh intothe surface a, .ofthe bed to hold the trough in position. Water is then poured .over the trough wet= ting the rface of the bed attheedges or the trough and soaking downward. to the ed 8 conveying the moisture to said seed by capilla y'attra'ction o the soil,

The bed maybe we befo e placing he trough in position and water is supplied as required by pouring it directly To'ver the trough allowing it to run dew l th side and soak into the surface of the bed .to the place wher t e seed are l ca ed- Thu moisture is supplied hile the cov ring etards evaporation f om the eart imm diately surrounding theseei thil a ting something like a valve admitting moisture but reta ding i s escape. To a compli h he pu pose, obviously; it is necessary th t t covering should beet .thenatu e 'o a strip,

' ha 'is l ng and narromand its par icular form in eross-sectie is a subo dinate eonsiemtionhere .si ces iu ly used atfiat strip covering a 'Vsha ed drill- In the form shown in Figure f rami nous walls are used, he apertur s 'b -:i1 .g

small en ugh to preven any distu ng jet of Water passing theret'hrough; a mist may beperini ted to pass .threug h the apert e 1n the device o Figures "5 a 6, the

apertures 0 are left open the water bein she-d beyond these opening y h o rhanging shape ofthewall of the trough.- .ln case the seed are supplied only with .difiuse light.

h t ughum y be n inch .or an in h and .a haldf'in-breed h The troughnis put in posi io once and fer all, and left t ere until the seed has sprouted and developed suffic en oots and strength s that it ay be watered directly or exposed to .a stronger light when the trough emoved.- i

The t anslucent sheets-d are s ightly ebscured so'as to prevent thefullstrength of the sun passingtherethrough to the seed and are of amaterial adap'ted-tothe purpose for which they are intended. V The groove b slants down fromits sides at an angle of about so thatthe water will be conveyed to the seed by both gravity and capillary attraction.

In the form of Figures 3' and 5, the light .of the sun is admitted to the seed without passing through glass or any other medium that obstructs, or prevents the passage of some portion of the light useful to the ger minating seed and plant.

That I claim is 1. The method of treatingseed for germi- 'nation, consisting in sowing thev seed in the ground, covering the seed with a stripof material that shall shelter the same from water, leaving suiiicient room between the seed and said strip to permit the growth of the plant,leaving said strip continuously over the seed until the plant has developed suflicient roots and strength to endure direct watering and directsunlight and watering the seed by pouringthewater over said strip so that it shall be carried totlie seed, by capillary attraction through the ground.

2. The method of treating seed for germi: nation, consistingin sowing the seed in the bot-tom of a 'drili, covering the drill with a strip of material that shall protect the seed from water, said strip resting upon the edges 'of said drillleaving the strip in position until the plants are formed and supplying water to the surface of the bed adjacent to the edges of said stripjof material so that it shall be carried to the seed by capillary attraction.

I 3. The method of treating seed for gel mination, consisting in sowing the seed in the bottom of a drill, covering the drill with from water and shall admit light therethrough, said strip of material resting with its edges adjacent to the edges of said drill and supplying water to the surface of the V seed'bed adjacent to the edges of said strip so that it shall be carried to the seed by capillary attraction.

v 4:. The method of treating seed for germination, consisting in sowing the seed in a row in the seed bed, covering the seed with [a strip of material that shall shed Water, said strip ofmaterial having its edges engaging said seed bedupon both sides of the row of seeds and adjacent thereto, and supplying water to the surface of the seed bed adjacent to the edges of said strip so that it shall be carried to the seed by'capillary attraction. V

5..'The method of treating seed for ger mination, consisting in sowing the seed in a row in the seed bed, covering the seed wlth a strip of material that shall shed water, said strip of material. having its edges engaging said seed bed upon both sides of the row of seeds and adjacent thereto, and supplying water to the surfaceof the seed bed adjacent to theedges of said strip so that it shall be carried to the seed bycapillary attraction a row of seed therein, of a strip of material adapted to shed water of the shape in cross.

section of an inverted trough, the edges of said trough engaging said seed bed upon op poslte sides of the rowof seed and closely adjacent thereto for the purpose described.

7." The combination with a seed bed'having a row of seed therein, a strip of material adapted to shed Water having the shape of an inverted trough, said strip having its edges engaging said seed bed upon opposite sides of said row of seed and adjacent thereto, said strip being provided with apertures therethrough that shall permit the passage of light butprevent the passage of a jet of water.

8. The combination with a. seed bedliaving a row of seed therein, a strip of ma terial adapted to shed water having the sha'peof an inverted trough, said strip having its edges engaging said seed bed upon opposite sides of said row of seed and ad j acent thereto, said strip being provided with apertures tlierethrough, said apertures being covered with a translucent material that shall prevent the passage of Water.

9. The combination of a seed bed, a row of seeds thereon, and a strip of material that shall shed water covering said seed, said strip engaging the bed on both sides of the row, said strip being provided with unobstrueted' apertures thatv shall exclude water.

but admit sunlight, for the purpose described.

10. The method of treating seed for germination, consisting in sowing the seed in the ground, protecting the seed so as to shelter the same from water, leavin room between the seed and protector growth of the plant, continuously protecting the seed until the plant has developed to stand direct watering and sunlight, and Watering the seed by pouring water over the protector so that. it will be'carried to the seedv by capillary attraction through the.

ground.

In testimony whereof, I sign this speci- ELLIO T J. STODDARD.

or the 

